Ver. 9. They shall make captains of the armies to lead the people— The captains of the armies shall take an account of the sum of the people. Waterland. In this version the Doctor follows Le Clerc. We follow the LXX, which Houbigant much approves. "Moses," says he, "orders, very appositely, that the commanders should not be appointed before the fearful were allowed to retire; for, had not that been the case, such commanders might have been chosen as were themselves fearful, and who certainly ought to be known before they were invested with command."
Related Commentaries of Deuteronomy 20:9
Deuteronomy 20:9
9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to leadd the people.